Tag: The Epistles

Stability can be defined as: Steadiness; stableness; firmness of character; strength to stand without being moved or overthrown.

We live in a world of hopelessness. This is another great reason why we cannot allow the world to get into our places of worship.

Hopelessness is a state of being desperate, being without hope of any kind.

As the Apostle Paul continued to write such graceful words, guided by the Holy Spirit, some people could look at his situation, in prison and awaiting execution, and decide that there was not a great future in this thing called being a Christian.

The Apostle Paul understood the thoughts of such a people, but we must realize that the benefits of having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ far outweighs the hopelessness of not knowing our Savior!

Another great thing we will learn in this passage is that the church that prays together, stays together!

The greatest prayer in the Bible is the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ in Chapter 17 of the Book of John.

The model prayer, the Lord teaches us in the Book of Matthew 6:9-13 may be the most quoted prayer in the Scriptures but this prayer of Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit may be the greatest prayer of the Church.

We should also remember how the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for Peter.

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Jesus also prayed for this lost world as we should. This world is ignorant of the truth of God!

Luk_23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; “for they know not what they do”.

When Satan has lost any power, he held over us when we gave our heart to Jesus Christ, then Satan still has a great desire to ruin the testimony of each Christian.

The Lord Jesus Christ prayed for the Church.

Here we will see where the Apostle Paul prays for the Church.

It is in our best interest for us all to pray not only for the Church but for each other!

So, let’s hear Paul’s prayer for the Church.

*****Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

If we bow in prayer to anyone or anything other than our Father in Heaven we are committing blasphemy.

Even the Lord Jesus Christ bowed to His Father in Heaven!

We should also realize that this phrase by Paul means we need to have the right attitude of prayer.

There is no specific bodily posture that is necessary for Spiritual worship! For some kneeling may be impossible.

Kneeling denotes humbleness and we must always be humble before our loving but very powerful God!

Kneeling also denotes a desperate need. There is a desperate need for the church to be strong today and we also need to pray as Paul prayed for the church.

We must also have an attitude of submissiveness!

We must submit to the Lord! If we cannot submit to the Lord, then we are not saved!

We can talk to God anytime we so choose, when we have a prayerful attitude.

Even more times than that, we will have a “cause” to go before the Lord.

When we have a specific cause, then we must be willing to explain things very well before the Lord. We can have unspoken request within a body of believers but not when we have a specific request while in our closet!

We cannot say to the Lord, I have an unspoken prayer request even though He already knows!

We have a great need for many things in our war with evil and the things of this world, so one of our greatest needs is the “strength” to deal with them.

We should notice that this prayer of Paul was in the will of God. God wants His Church to be strong against the evils of this world to do this we must be in the will of God.

The safest place for any of us is being in the will of God!

It is God who gave birth to the Church and it is God who will see the Church succeed until the time of the fulness of the Gentiles!

Notice Paul does not just pray to a father but to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who came into this world to reveal the One true God to us!

Having “faith” in anyone but the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ will yield no results and no salvation!

We must be utterly dependent on this God. Jehovah God of the Bible, the God that saves, there is no other God!

The world may know a god who is distant and unconcerned with humanity but because of the Lord Jesus Christ we can know the true God who likes it up close and personal and in fact will abide within each of us.

When Paul prayed to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he prayed to the God who could hear his prayer and then also able to answer his prayer.

Our God is alive!

*****Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

The truth of our God is that He is the Father of every believer from the time of Adam, all those who have trusted in the fulfillment of His promises!

There is the family of angels who have trusted and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ rather than go after Lucifer and there are the “children of God” who have placed their faith in the things of God.

Just think when we get to Heaven, we will not only see the Lord Jesus but, we will see Adam, and Abraham, and David and every Saint that is mentioned in the Scriptures who have gone on Home, before us.

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

They may have carried the name Christian on Earth, but they carry the name “child of God” in every location!

Paul knew that to survive the evil in this world would require strength but not just any strength but the strength of God, the Holy Spirit.

*****Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

The Lord Jesus Christ indicated that after Pentecost, the Holy Spirit(Holy Ghost) would begin a new ministry to believers in the Church Age, that was unlike the Old Testament Ages.

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

In the Old Testament, except for a few instances, (Joshua, David and a few others) the Holy Spirit was with the Old Testament Saints, but He was not “within” the Old Testament Saints.

In the New Testament Saint, the Holy Spirit will live within each believer, as a gift from God and He will never leave that believer!

2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

1Th 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit

1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

This event takes place at salvation!

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

When we have strength that we do not understand. it is because we are endowed with God the Holy Spirit!

1Co_6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Being endowed with the “gift” of the Holy Spirit at “salvation” shows the ownership of God!

This strength is needed not for some miracle like as the time of the Apostles, but this strength is needed by our inner man to take control of our flesh in the name of the Lord!

The glory of God is in Himself and no one can match the resources of God! The strength mentioned here is would be spiritual firmness against the evils of this world.

As Christians we must be “tough” in a Spiritual sense. We must have the energy to come face to face with this world and win!

We win because we are on the “Winning Side”!

Without this strength we could not overcome this body of flesh and we would be wide open to being made useless to God.

Without this strength we would never be able to lay claim to the blessings of God.

Without this strength we would fear everything that the natural man fears!

How do we know God will answer our prayer, He lives within us and the riches of God’s glory are in His Son Jesus Christ?

It says, who do you love? If you truly love the Lord, you will able to receive the riches of God’s glory!

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

God’s “Grace” is sufficient because within us, lies the greatest power in all the universe!

*****Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

The key to be a Christian is for Jesus Christ to dwell in our heart, “by faith”.

We receive the absolute fulness of God into our own spirit with that thing called “faith”!

When we go forth filled with God there is no obstacle we cannot overcome. There is no battle with evil that we cannot win and there is no evil that can break us down!

A.W. Tozer said, “A man who is intimate with God is not intimidated by man”

When Jesus Christ dwells in our heart then He will rule, and that word dwell means to set up a permanent residence and not a temporary dwelling.

Jesus Christ not only lives within our heart, but He makes us aware of it!

When the entire body of believers of any congregation have such an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, that church will be a force in the community where it resides.

Just as the mighty oak tree is rooted to withstand the nature of this world, each Christian must be deeply rooted in Jesus Christ and each member of each congregation must be deeply rooted in that Church to grow as a weapon in the army of God.

In electrical work, a system of electricity must be bonded, grounded, to make a sure connection, to provide the system to work properly and for the safety of those things that are handled by those who use them.

As Christians we must be bonded to Jesus Christ with a sure connection that will endure forever.

The Love of Christ is that sure connection and it works both ways.

Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

When we look real hard at this prayer of Paul for the Church it was much like the Prayer the Lord Jesus prayed for the church!

When we understand that we have the entire Holy Trinity living within us and through “faith” that power is available to us, we should be able to notice the difference in our actions because it will be God working within us!

We do all these things so as Christians we have the same understanding of the Word of God, God’s love letter to everyone who will believe in “faith”!

*****Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

That word “able” means having sufficient knowledge of God to make the right decisions for the good of the Church.

Having a full understanding of the Spiritual things of God!

God explains His plan repeatedly in most any part of the Scriptures and it this plan that must be down in the inner part of each believer, so each believer can act on this knowledge in this physical world.

These things can only begin once we have the Lord Jesus Christ living in our heart.

We should understand, just because God wanted to, He has done so much for us while we were His enemies, that we just cannot comprehend it all!

God’s love for is such a quantity that it cannot be measured!

Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Job 11:8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
Job 11:9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

One of our greatest prayers should be for God to increase our understanding of Him!

The more we understand, the simpler it will be for us to be an outreach to teach God’s plan to others and as a body of believers we should all be on the same page.

When we add all these things up, being rooted and grounded, deeply fixed, firmly established in His love, and with one another as He commands, we will also have an amount of “love” that we cannot even fathom!

In fact, this applies to all the things of God!

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

It is obvious, that to understand these things, we must have a close and prosperous and very personal relationship with the Holy Spirit that lives within each of us!

We should also understand that only a very small but a very important part of the words of Christ have been preserved, the rest we will learn when we get to Heaven.

Joh_21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

The vastness of the love and knowledge of the Lord just simply cannot be measured!

The ultimate goal for each believer is to reach the fulness of God, which is perfection!

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

It is only those who are perfect that will dwell with God throughout eternity!

There is nothing that anyone can add to these words! For anyone to detract from this truth, would be an attempt change the truth of God!

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

It is extremely important that we take on the image of Jesus Christ!

Mat 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

To be the image of Christ is so important that it could be said to be the theme of the New Testament and it is!

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

We should surely understand that it is not only the Holy Ghost that lives within us, but the entire Holy Trinity abides within each believer.

The fulness of God is the Triune God!

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

First the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Then the Lord Jesus, the Son and His Father, who is also our Father!

To be saved we must pray to the Lord Jesus Christ that He would move into our Heart.
We must pray to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Now we see we must pray for the fulness of God to move into our soul!

We are to constantly pray for all these things and the Lord Jesus has already said the Comforter will never leave us, nor would He ever forsake us.

This means the Holy Spirit will never leave us for any reason and this means we cannot lose the gift of salvation that God has freely given to us!

We can miss so many things when we do not study the Scriptures!

So, who can truthfully do all these things?

*****Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

It is our “faith” that limits the blessings of God and not that He is able to go far beyond our request!

Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

God said if we had enough “faith” we could move a tree:

Luk_17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

In fact, God said if we had enough faith we could move a mountain:

Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

As much as we talk about our faith, the only faith we have is the faith that God gave us to be saved and we must increase our “faith” as we know more about our Savior!

Rom_12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

We ought to be begging God to increase our “faith”!

Jesus said we lacked much fasting in our prayer life.

We must give up something for God to give up something to us!

Food and water sustain our life so, to fast shows God, we are willing to trust Him for our life.

So as Paul closes out this passage, he makes us aware that God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask.

The most important thing we can do for ourselves is to live our lives so that we know our prayer will reach into the throne room of God.

God can go far beyond what we ask and believe it or not, God can go far beyond even what we think, but God will only give us what we need to remain in His will even if we ask in the greatest “faith”. Sometimes God’s best answer to our request is “No”!

We know that God first created each us from the elements of the soil, but God could just as well have used stones!

Luk 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

God can even fulfill promises that are humanly impossible!

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

God can subdue all things to Himself!

Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

God can save us to the uttermost!

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

That power that works within us is the Holy Spirit and it is from Him where this power comes from according to this Scripture and God will never lie to us!

Above all we must remember that God will only do these things if they bring Him the Glory, as it should be!

How long is God to be glorified? Throughout all Ages, world without end!

God lives in infinity and we will soon join Him there!

As these days pass by, let’s do our best not to limit the power of God in our lives.

We need to pray that God will increase our faith and realize that if it is important enough to us then we also need to fast!

We already know that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

In the accepted canon of the Bible, we know that there are 13 Epistles that bear the name of the Apostle Paul.

The birth place of Paul was the city of Tarsus which still exist in modern Turkey on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

Paul says he was of the tribe of Benjamin and therefore a Jew but being free born in Tarsus a Roman province and circumstances that are not explained Paul was also a Roman citizen.

Paul was well trained in His Jewish heritage and at a young age he was sent to study at the feet of Gamaliel who was a high ranking Pharisee, a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin court and a celebrated Doctor of the Jewish Law, the Laws of Moses.

He was The Authority in his day of the Jewish Talmud which was a collection of the Jewish traditions and explanations of the accepted Scriptures of the Old Testament.

The Talmud was in two parts.

1) The Mishna was the written law the Laws of Moses.

2) The Gemara was the oral interpretations and comments of the Jewish, Doctors of those Laws.

The Apostle Paul was well educated in Jewish Law and all Jewish traditions and was very zealous in his beliefs.

Act 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

When Paul totally surrendered himself to the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul then began to learn the truth of those same Scriptures he had known since he was a child.

Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

In this epistle written to the Galatians we will see the Apostle Paul defend the truth of Christianity as we must all do.

From the beginning of the early Church there have only been a few that questioned the authorship of the Book of Galatians.

The date this wonderful book was written may not ever be exact but it was definitely written between 48-60 A.D.

Paul had a great purpose for writing this wonderful book of the Bible.

The Apostleship of Paul came under question by certain men and that accusation had to be answered and answered firmly or the “Gospel of Grace” would forever be called into question.

The Apostle Paul was not only under attack but the Gospel of Jesus Christ was also under attack as it still is today.

There were certain professing to be Christian Jews (Judaizers) who were teaching a double error.

1) They taught that salvation came partly by faith and partly by works.

2) They also taught that upon this salvation a person could only grow in Christ partly by faith and partly by their own good works.

In other words, each person had to believe on Christ but that person still had to undertake the rituals of Judaism beginning with circumcision.

How does that transpire in our days?

In many places of worship, not only must one accept the Lord Jesus as Savior but they are not saved until they are baptized, or become a member of the church, or many other things such as speak in tongues.

They then had to observe all the rituals and traditions of that false religion.

There are many places today that observe rituals and traditions that have absolutely nothing to do with salvation and are even deceiving and sinful.

***There are only two ordinances that are to be observed by the child of God and neither have anything to do with salvation.

1) There is the Lord’s Supper:

1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

a) This is done to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ and by His command.

b) This is done to connect each of us in a personal connection with the Lord.

c) This done to connect each believer to each other.

2) Then there is Baptism:

Baptism is an ordinance commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ just as the Lord’s Supper.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

This Baptism must reflect the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words baptism must be by a full immersion of that person who has already surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

3) If there was a third ordinance it would be that of being a servant as demonstrated when our Lord Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.

We are never to reach a point in in our saved life that we are not willing to take on the lowest act of a servant!

***The teaching of the Apostle Paul differed from those who were called Judaizers.

The truth of the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ” is this.

Each individual can only be saved by Jesus Christ and He alone!

We can only be saved by the “Grace of God”!

There is not one person who will ever enter into Heaven who has won, or earned, or merited salvation by something they have done themselves!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Of course, the Apostle Paul was charged with deceit by these Judaizers and these Galatians were told that Paul was not even an actual Apostle.

We know that there can be no more actual apostles because an apostle had to meet certain qualifications that cannot be met today.

The term Apostle means “one sent forth”.

To be an Apostle meant each man was hand selected by Jesus Christ and was sent forth to preach the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”!

Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

The Apostle Peter led this group of the originals, only eleven after the treasonous act and death of Judas Iscariot, to select a twelfth Apostle.

We know that Mathias was chosen and no doubt a good man who also spent a great deal of time with Jesus and was a witness of the resurrection of Our Lord.

Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Matthias was not chosen by the Lord to be an Apostle even though he was a good disciple.

The Lord Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would not be sent to preach the Gospel!

Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

Judas has fulfilled his purpose and was even offered a chance to repent but just would not do so.

Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

The Lord Jesus chose and sent the Apostle Paul.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

**Paul had written many of his Epistles to specific cities and specific Churches but Paul writes this Epistle to all the Christians of Galatia.

Galatia was an area, not a nation and not a city.

Galatia was originally settled by the Gauls.

The Gauls were not Arabians but Gentile descendants of Japheth, a son of Noah.

The area settled by the Gauls was expanded in the time of the Roman domination and much of Galatia became a Roman providence.

These Galatians were an emotional, impulsive, and a changeable people and are much the same even today.

They had a love for the strange, the curious, and the unknown.

They were easily attached to religions that were mainly a worship of nature and these type still exist today.

They were easily caught up in Greek and Roman mythology.

Many of them found it possible to worship as Paul and the Word of God taught them one day and then stone the Apostle Paul the next day in confusion.

From the Book of Acts, the accounts of the Apostles, we can learn that Paul preached and established many of these churches on his first and his third missionary journey’s.

Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Galatia on his second mission trip.

Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Act 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Just as every new Christian is, these churches were spiritually immature and easily swayed by false doctrine.

The reason for the Book of Galatians was to deal with the basic doctrine of Christianity.

The Doctrine of Christianity is “Salvation By Grace” and Grace alone!

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The Book of Galatians takes us into the heart of the “Gospel”!

Salvation means that each of us must receive the “Gospel” by faith!

There is no amount of work nor obedience to any law that can bring salvation!

Legalism in any form can neither save a sinner nor perfect the Saint of God!

What we should realize is, that Paul never taught that the Jews were to abandon the Laws of Moses nor their rituals or their traditions.

BUT, they were taught that these things could not bring salvation!

The Gentiles were taught to never get caught up in the Jewish laws and traditions but being free from these things does not give us the freedom to just toss out the commandments of God!

The entire Old Testament is our School Master for what God has already done!

Cultures and practices are different throughout this world we live in but salvation remains the same to all!

The one main point of the letter to these Galatians was and it is the same today, is that none of us can earn, or win, or do anything for salvation beyond trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ!

That includes Jews, Gentiles, and any other name that people use.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Human effort is not spiritual and it is not eternal nor can it ever be!

We will also see that God calls all His ministers but they are not all alike.

The Apostle Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but the Apostle Peter was the Apostle to the Jews but they were all to have the same message of “Grace”.

Another message we should not miss in our studies is that all Christians around the world are to treat each other as brothers and sisters in the same family of Jehovah God.

We should all be able to sit down with each other and fellowship in peace!

Above all we are to be servants to each other and never reach a point where we place ourselves above others.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

The Book of Galatians has been a powerful message throughout the Church Age.

It is the Book of Galatians that brought reformation by Martin Luther and peace to many others.

The truth of the “Gospel” is that we are justified by faith and not by works.

We are saved by “Grace” and we are also kept saved by “Grace”!

So let’s begin:

*****Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

In the days of the New Testament, salutations were at the beginning of the letter instead of at the end as it is in our day.

All the letters Paul wrote to the New Testament Churches had certain words in common but they all also were just a little bit different.

The beginning of this letter to the Galatians began significantly different from all the others.

The Apostleship of Paul had come under question and there are even those that still question it today.

There may have been many so-called apostles throughout church history but there have only been 12 Apostles hand picked and sent out with a specific message by the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time of Judas Iscariot there were 12 men who were said to be disciples. The command to be sent out came from the Lord after the death of Judas.

In the day of these 12 Apostles the term apostle had another meaning than “one who was sent”.

The Jews had an officer called “Shaliach”. A “Shaliach” could speak and act with the same authority as the One who sent him!

It was those 12 Apostles that were hand selected by the Lord Jesus Christ who carried with them the authority of the “Shaliach”.

It is these 12 who went forth with the authority given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Apostle Paul may not have been in that original group but Paul did meet the qualifications of being an Apostle because he was hand selected by the Lord Jesus on the Damascus Road.

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Many of these Galatians had began to question the ministry of the Apostle Paul which led to them questioning the message of the Apostle Paul.

Paul says:

1) I am a true Apostle.

2) I am a true minister of God and not of men.

3) I am a true messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We should be very clear, these Galatians had the right reasons. All those that preach and teach a “Gospel” other than that of the Lord Jesus Christ need to be run out of the Church and their ministry destroyed.

But at this time it was Paul who taught the truth of the Scriptures!

It had been Paul himself who tried to destroy the early church but that was not possible then nor is it now!

Paul certainly had not been sent by the home church at Jerusalem when he began his ministry.

Paul’s ministry did not include the rituals and traditions of the home church at Jerusalem.

Paul preached a different message than the home church in Jerusalem.

But the Apostle Paul stood his ground because he preached the entire truth of God!

In all these things Paul did not even try to argue with those that criticized him.

And Paul said, I serve the Living God, the One whom God had raise from the dead!

There is no religion that can teach with these same words.

We must understand the message of salvation we receive is from the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is our resurrected Savior who only can bring salvation to “all” that call on His name.

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

The Lord Jesus paid the price of our sin, “the wages of death” with His own blood.

But it is our resurrected Savior who justifies all His believers!

It is the brethren, the believers who should understand this truth!

*****Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

There had been many who traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys. To begin with there was Barnabas and John Mark but it was the Holy Spirit that had directed the work of Paul.

Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

We also know of Timothy and Titus among many others including Luke.

Which of these Paul was referring to at this time we may not know but that was not important. The importance came from the fact that everyone who was traveling with the Apostle Paul agreed with everything that Paul was writing in this Epistle to the Galatians.

Paul’s group was in one accord and these Galatians were in a state of confusion because they had been led astray by false teaching.

Paul called them brethren because they were much more than friends. They were brothers who served the same Lord and believed the same doctrine, the Doctrine of Grace.

We should then notice that this Epistle was not just written to one church but all the churches of Galatia.

Among those would have been Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe and probably others.

The Apostle Paul had come under attack from all the churches that he had established.

We can see that Satan hates it when the “Gospel of Grace” is preached and then believed.

Here at Gethsemane we have a Pastor who preaches the entire truth of the Word of God, and we cannot call ourselves brethren if we do not stand with him.

It is those who would twist the truth of the Word of God who should be avoided at all cost!

True brothers in Christ will always come to the aid of each other!

Paul knew the doctrine in question so Paul begins with the word “Grace”.

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

*****Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

**What is Grace? Grace is the undeserved favor of God! Undeserved means it cost you nothing!

If you had to work for the favor of God then you would be trying to pay a debt that you never had the ability to pay!

Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

We simply do not deserve God’s favor!

We absolutely cannot win God’s approval!

God is too high and man is too low to deserve anything from our Holy God!

The only thing any human being has ever earned is the judgment, condemnation, and punishment of God!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

**What is peace with God? Peace is to be intertwined and joined in a personal relationship with God and with all others that trust in the same “Grace”.

Peace is being secured in the loving hands of God!

This peace can only come by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus said to know Me is to know peace!

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Paul wrote to the Philippians with these words.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A great lesson to learn here is, that though we can never loose our salvation, we can fall out of the “Grace” of God as a church group and as an individual and when that happens we will not be at peace in this world we live in nor with the God we serve.

Proof:

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

We must guard against falling from “Grace”!

We must guard against trusting in our own works to be saved and our own works to keep us saved because we can do neither one!

So what has Jesus actually done for us?

*****Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

This verse gives us a brief summary of the “Gospel”, the “Good News” of our Savior.

Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins because He knew we were unable to do so!

Jesus Christ died as our substitute.

Jesus Christ took my place and your place in order to pay our wages of death!

Jesus Christ gave His life, no one took His life, nor could they have taken His life!

Jesus Christ offered Himself to a Holy God as a sacrifice for our sin because only He was the sinless Son of God and able to do so!

And for what purpose did the Lord Jesus do this for us?

That He might deliver us from this present evil world!

We must realize the Son of God did this in unison with His Father!

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

But it was the Son, not the Father, who has made us citizens of Heaven and no longer a part of this world!

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

This was the only point of the death of our Savior on Calvary’s cross!

To be delivered means to be “rescued” now while we are still living in this flesh!

To be delivered means to be “plucked out” which will take place at the “Rapture of the Church”.

To be delivered means to have abundant life now and eternal life now and forever!

Again Jesus said:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Why did Jesus do these things? Because it was the will of God, His Father!

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

This was God’s method of adoption then and is the same way now!

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And once saved and adopted into the family of God we all need to praise and glorify God!

*****Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

It is now and it has been true from the beginning, it is Jesus Christ who is the glory of the Church!

It is now and it has been true from the beginning, that God the Father who by His own purpose and His own will offered up His only begotten Son, “By His Grace” so that we could be delivered from this present evil world.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All those that discount the “Grace of God” are foolish people, who ignore the truth of God and cling to a world that will one day no longer exist!

We need to praise God continuously for what He has done and we need to make ourselves familiar with the work of Jesus Christ our Lord!

The Epistles are all the Books of the Bible in the New Testament except the Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) and of course the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. When it comes to Missionaries the Apostle Paul was a great Missionary but in the true sense of the word, Paul was more a Church planter. A missionary will go to a place and start a church and then usually become the pastor of that church. The Apostle Paul would begin a church and once it was started he would move on the start other churches. The “Epistles” are letters of correspondence to those Churches.

I.) The Book of Philippians:

Philippi:

Formerly Crenides, “the fountain,” the capital of the province of Macedonia. It stood near the head of the Sea, about 8 miles north-west of Cavalla. It is now a ruined village, called Philibedjik. Philip of Macedonia fortified the old Thracian town of Crenides, and called it after his own name Philippi (359-336 B.C.). In the time of the Emperor Augustus this city became a Roman colony, i.e., a military settlement of Roman soldiers, there planted for the purpose of controlling the district recently conquered. It was a “miniature Rome,” under the municipal law of Rome, and governed by military officers, called duumvir, who were appointed directly from Rome. Having been providentially guided thither, here Paul and his companion Silas preached the gospel and formed the first church in Europe. This success stirred up the enmity of the people, and they were “shamefully entreated” (Acts 16:9-40). Paul and Silas at length left this city and proceeded to Amphipolis.

Act 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

Act 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Act 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

1Th 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

a.) Philippi was a wicked city.

The Satriae tribe had the oracle of Dionysus, the Thracian prophet god.

The worship of Dionysus was savage and ecstatic, his votaries participated in orgia in which live animals (usually a spotted fawn, a goat, an ox or a bull) were torn apart and devoured raw. It was believed that the god entered the worshippers and possessed them through this Eucharist of living flesh, called the Omophagia. Animal skins and masks were worn, and a bull-roarer (rhombus) was used to simulate the thundering of Zeus.
b.) The Book to the Philippians is basically a THANK YOU letter to this church.
Php 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Php 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Php 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
c.) This church was started down by a river side.
Act 16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
The number of Jews in Philippi was small, since it was a military and not a mercantile city; consequently there was no synagogue, but only a proseucha, or praying-place, a slight structure, and often open to the sky. It was outside the gate, for the sake of retirement, and near a stream, because of the ablutions connected with the worship.
II.) The Book of Colossians:
Colossae
Or Colosse, a city of Phrygia, on the Lycus, which is a tributary of the Maeander. It was about 12 miles above Laodicea, and near the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates, and was consequently of some mercantile importance. It does not appear that Paul had visited this city when he wrote his letter to the church there (Col_1:2). He expresses in his letter to Philemon (Col_1:22) his hope to visit it on being delivered from his imprisonment. From Col_1:7; Col_4:12 it has been concluded that Epaphras was the founder of the Colossian church. This town afterwards fell into decay, and the modern town of Chonas or Chonum occupies a site near its ruins.
a.) The book is perfectly divided into two sections. (2 chapters Doctrinal and 2 chapters Practical for a total of 4 chapters).
We need to what we believe and why we believe what we do before we can actually be true witnesses of Christ.
Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Practical:
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
c.) This Book teaches “How to Grow into Mature Christians”
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

III.) I Thessalonians:
Thessalonica
A large and populous city on the Thermaic bay. It was the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia, and was ruled by a praetor. It was named after Thessalonica, the wife of Cassander, who built the city. She was so called by her father, Philip, because he first heard of her birth on the day of his gaining a victory over the Thessalians. On his second missionary journey, Paul preached in the synagogue here, the chief synagogue of the Jews in that part of Macedonia, and laid the foundations of a church (Act_17:1-4; 1Th_1:9). The violence of the Jews drove him from the city, when he fled to Berea (Act_17:5-10). The “rulers of the city” before whom the Jews “drew Jason,” with whom Paul and Silas lodged, are in the original called politarchai, an unusual word, which was found, however, inscribed on an arch in Thessalonica. This discovery confirms the accuracy of the historian. Paul visited the church here on a subsequent occasion (Act_20:1-3). This city long retained its importance. It is the most important town of European Turkey, under the name of Saloniki, with a mixed population of about 85,000.
a.) This letter was given to new Christians to “Encourage Growth”.
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1Th 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
b.) Paul and Silas were only here for a month and then run out of town.
Act 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and [three sabbath days] reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Act 17:10 And [the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea]: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
c.) This is one of the most practical letters in the Bible.
1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1Th 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
1Th 4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
1Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
1Th 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
1Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1Th 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

IV.) II Thessalonians:
Paul gets a little deeper here but remains practical.
a.) This letter was to give them information about the coming of Christ.
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
b.) Paul also writes to tell them that the work for Jesus Christ must start.
2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2Th 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
c.) Paul tries to teach them to maintain christian standards:
2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
V.) I & II Timothy:
a.) This book is the “Manual” for Christian LEADERS.
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
b.) How to teach the elements of prayer and SOUND DOCTRINE.
1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
c.) HOW TO HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.
1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
VI.) Titus
a.) This book teaches the importance of a good home life.
Tit 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
b.) The importance of Spiritual Leadership.
Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Tit 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Tit 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
c.) Consistency
A standing together, as the parts of a system, or of conduct, &c.; agreement or harmony of all parts of a complex thing among themselves, or of the same thing with itself at different times; congruity; uniformity; as the consistency of laws, regulations or judicial decisions; consistency of opinion; consistency of behavior or of character.

There is harmony and consistency in all Gods works.
Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Tit 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
VII.) Philemon:
a.) This is a story of a runaway slave.
Phm 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Phm 1:12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
Phm 1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
Phm 1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
Phm 1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

b.) This is a story of a changed life:
Phm 1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Phm 1:16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
Phm 1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
c.) This a story of SUBSTITUTION.
In Typology this story gives us a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Phm 1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
When Jesus Christ interceded on our behalf (and He still does) He told God the Father to put all my sins and yours on HIS ACCOUNT. JESUS PAID IT ALL.
I was “unprofitable”, a worthless sinner!
I’m now a Borned Again child of God.
Thank you Father and Christ my Lord!
Jesus was my “substitute” and SUBSTITUTE FOR EVERY ONE IN THE WORLD. WE MUST ONLY “BELIEVE.”
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, [If thou believest with all thine heart], thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.